300 Days With The Alpha Beta Triplets
THE BIG GUNS

Bella:

What was this? My mother knew Alpha Fred when they were younger-and worse, they had taken a picture together. Not just anywhere, but on the hills, the very spot Ryder had introduced me to as his favorite. The view in the photograph replayed in my mind, the way they sat with their hands intertwined, which could only mean they were more than just friends.

"What cannot be?" My mother's repeated question snapped me back to reality. I panicked and shoved the portrait behind me, tossing it into the unlit fireplace. The picture slipped from my trembling fingers, sliding down the cold bricks with a soft thud. I forced a neutral expression as I turned to face her, my heart pounding in my chest.

She stood there, her brows knitted and her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"You asked the triplets not to visit me?" My voice rose, quivering with frustration. Her gaze softened, but she took a deep breath before replying.

"Bella, you're sick, and I don't want anything to tamper with your health. You need rest, and I don't want you snooping around, trying to get back at Fae while you're here. That's why I had you suspended, and if you think that's foolish, then forgive me for being a mother!" Her voice trembled as she spoke. I glanced over her shoulder as Alpha Fred appeared by the staircase.

She turned swiftly, letting out a long, weary sigh.

"Your father said that the last time this happened, he sought help from a witch, so I've sent for one," she said, her voice softer now. "They should be done with your room, and I think it's best if you-"

"I want to stay here," I interrupted, my voice steady. "And I'd like to take a walk to get some fresh air. The medicine I took earlier made me feel stronger, even if it didn't help with the nausea."

She hesitated, her eyes searching mine for any sign of deception, but eventually, she relented. With a slow nod, she turned and made her way up the stairs with Alpha Fred close behind. The moment they disappeared, I lunged for the portrait.

Whatever this was, I was going to replace out.

**

Third Person POV:

"I don't understand why Bella's mum is making things so difficult for us," Kai said, his voice laced with frustration as he made his way down the hallway in the dorm. "It's only been a day, and I really want to see her, to know how she's doing. How can you not be allowed in your own father's house?" He spoke into his phone, his words directed at Ryder and Finn, who were on the other end of the call, filling him in on their conversation with Bella and how enraged Evelyn had become.

"Trust me," Ryder replied. "That only makes my father happier. Her needs come first before mine. I wouldn't be surprised if he threw me out if she wanted that." They all shared a strained laugh at the grim truth.

Kai, who was on his way to Bella's room to retrieve a forgotten jacket, froze mid-step as he spotted Fae and Sebastian emerging from her room. Instinctively, he ducked behind a statue in the hallway, his breath catching in his throat. He watched Hazel standing at the door, waving them off with a smile that sent a chill down his spine. As the duo walked away, Hazel retreated into her room, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.

Kai's mind raced, his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted to believe that Hazel wouldn't work with those two, but the evidence was undeniable. His pulse quickened as he bolted for the triplets' room, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Kai, are you there?" Ryder's voice crackled through the phone, but Kai barely heard him as he burst through the door, panting heavily. Ryder and Finn looked up from where they lounged on the couches in the living space, their eyes narrowing with concern.

"What happened?" Ryder asked, sitting up straight, his gaze fixed on Kai.

Kai stood tall, his hand pressed to his chest as he tried to steady his breathing. "Sebastian, Fae, and..." He paused, taking a deep breath. "Hazel."

The room fell silent as Ryder and Finn rose to their feet, confusion and disbelief etched on their faces.

"What do you mean by that?" Finn questioned, his eyes searching Kai's face for any hint of a joke. "Is this some kind of joke?"

Kai shook his head. "I had to take the longer route because Sebastian and Fae were leaving. They both came out of Hazel's room, which means she's working with them."

Even as the words left his mouth, the others struggled to comprehend the situation. They exchanged glances, trying to piece together a scenario that made sense, one that didn't involve Hazel betraying them.

"Maybe she's trying to make them think she's on their side," Ryder suggested. "And then, when the time is right, she'll expose all their secrets."

Finn raised a brow, his arms crossing over his chest.

"No matter how we try to spin it, we know Fae wouldn't easily let Hazel into her circle. If it were Ryder, I might believe it, but she hates Hazel. If she's working with them, it means she's..."

"Compelled." Finn finished Kai's words, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Sebastian must have compelled her. We need to tell Bella immediately."

As they huddled together, trying to make sense of the situation, they had no idea that Hazel was lurking just outside the door, her ear pressed against the wood. Her heart raced as she overheard their conversation. She had come to sympathize with the triplets, to gather more information about Bella, but instead, she had stumbled upon a secret that could change everything.

She hurried back to her room, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. Once inside, she locked the door behind her and pulled out her phone with trembling fingers.

"The triplets know about us," she whispered into the phone. "They saw you and Sebastian leaving my room, and they're going to tell Bella."

On the other end of the line, Fae remained unfazed, her voice calm and controlled. "Then it's time to roll out the big guns," she said, her tone sending a shiver down Hazel's spine.

Hazel swallowed hard, unsure of what Fae meant but too afraid to ask. "I think it's time we paid a visit to our dear principal."